- A
SWITCH(TRUE(), MONTH(Sales[Date]) >= 7, YEAR(Sales[Date]), YEAR(Sales[Date])-1)
Correctly calculates fiscal year starting July.
- B
YEAR(Sales[Date])
Why wrong: Returns calendar year, not fiscal.
- C
YEAR(Sales[Date]) + 1
Why wrong: Just adds 1 to calendar year.
- D
FORMAT(Sales[Date], "YYYY")
Why wrong: Returns text year.
Question 742 of 966
PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of prepare the data. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You have a Power BI data model with a 'Sales' fact table and a 'Date' dimension. You need to create a calculated column in the 'Sales' table that shows the fiscal year based on a 'Date' column. The fiscal year starts on July 1. Which DAX expression should you use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SWITCH(TRUE(), MONTH(Sales[Date]) >= 7, YEAR(Sales[Date]), YEAR(Sales[Date])-1)
Option A is correct because it uses SWITCH with TRUE() to evaluate a logical condition: if the month of the date is July or later (MONTH >= 7), it returns the current year; otherwise, it returns the previous year. This correctly implements a fiscal year starting on July 1, as required.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
SWITCH(TRUE(), MONTH(Sales[Date]) >= 7, YEAR(Sales[Date]), YEAR(Sales[Date])-1)
Why this is correct
Correctly calculates fiscal year starting July.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
YEAR(Sales[Date])
Why it's wrong here
Returns calendar year, not fiscal.
- ✗
YEAR(Sales[Date]) + 1
Why it's wrong here
Just adds 1 to calendar year.
- ✗
FORMAT(Sales[Date], "YYYY")
Why it's wrong here
Returns text year.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume YEAR() alone is sufficient for fiscal year calculations, overlooking the need to adjust for the fiscal year start month, or they incorrectly add 1 to all years instead of conditionally shifting only the first half of the calendar year.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The SWITCH(TRUE(), ...) pattern is a common DAX technique for evaluating multiple conditions sequentially; it stops at the first TRUE condition. In a real-world scenario, if the fiscal year started on a different month (e.g., October 1), you would adjust the MONTH comparison accordingly. Note that this calculated column returns an integer year value, which is efficient for filtering and grouping in Power BI visuals.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PL-300 question test?
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SWITCH(TRUE(), MONTH(Sales[Date]) >= 7, YEAR(Sales[Date]), YEAR(Sales[Date])-1) — Option A is correct because it uses SWITCH with TRUE() to evaluate a logical condition: if the month of the date is July or later (MONTH >= 7), it returns the current year; otherwise, it returns the previous year. This correctly implements a fiscal year starting on July 1, as required.
What should I do if I get this PL-300 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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